Compact floribunda rose plant named ‘Poulpal078’

ABSTRACT

A new garden rose plant of the compact floribunda class which has abundant, light pink flowers and attractive foliage. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Botanical designation: Rosa hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Poulpal078’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety of roseplant which originated from a controlled crossing between the femaleseed parent, an unnamed seedling, and the male pollen parent, also anunnamed seedling. Both of the parent varieties are non-patented.

The two parents were crossed during the summer of 2010 and the resultingseeds were planted in a controlled environment in Fredensborg, Denmark.The new variety, named ‘Poulpal078’, originated as a single seedlingfrom the stated cross.

The new variety may be distinguished from its male pollen parent andfemale seed parent primarily by the following characteristics. The malepollen parent plant has ivory white flowers while the new variety haslight pink flowers. The female seed parent plant has mauve flowers whilethe new variety has light pink flowers.

The objective of the hybridization of this rose variety was to create anew and distinct variety with unique qualities, such as:

-   -   1. Uniform and abundant light pink, fragrant flowers;    -   2. Vigorous, but compact growth when propagated on its own        roots;    -   3. Exceptional disease resistance.

This combination of qualities is not present in previously availablecommercial cultivars of this type, known to the inventor, anddistinguish ‘Poulpal078’ from all other varieties of which we are aware.

As part of the rose development program, Mogens N. Olesen germinated theseeds from the aforementioned hybridization during winter of 2010 andconducted evaluations on the resulting seedlings in a controlledenvironment in Fredensborg, Denmark. ‘Poulpal078’ was selected in thespring of 2011 by the inventor as a single plant from the progeny of theaforementioned hybridization.

Asexual reproduction of ‘Poulpal078’ by rooted cuttings was first doneby Mogens N. Olesen in the nursery in Fredensborg, Denmark in July,2011. This initial and other subsequent asexual propagations conductedin controlled environments have demonstrated that the characteristics of‘Poulpal078’ are true to type and are transmitted from one generation tothe next.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color illustration shows as true as is reasonablypossible to obtain in color photographs of this type, the typicalcharacteristics of the buds, flowers, leaves, and stems, of‘Poulpal078’.

Specifically illustrated in the drawing are open flowers, petalsdetached, sepals detached revealing reproductive flower parts, leaves,and bare stems. Plants shown are 2 years of age.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a description of ‘Poulpal078’,as observed in its growthin a field nursery in Linn County, Oreg. Observed plants are 2 years ofage, and were grown on their own roots. Color references are made usingThe Royal Horticultural Society (London, England) Colour Chart, 2001,except where common terms of color are used.

For a comparison, several physical characteristics of the rose variety‘Poulpah057’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,948 are compared to ‘Poulpal078’ inChart 1.

CHART 1 ‘Poulpal078’ ‘Poulpah057’ Petal Count 65 petals 60 petals FlowerDiameter 70 mm 50 mm General Tonality Open flowers are Red- Red Group55B and of Flower Color Purple Group 65C 55C

FLOWER AND FLOWER BUD

-   Blooming habit: Continuous.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Size.—Upon opening, 23 mm in length from base of receptacle            to end of bud. Bud diameter is 15 mm.        -   Bud form.—Ovoid.        -   Bud color.—As sepals divide petals are Red- Purple Group            63A.        -   Sepal inner surface.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 146D.            Surface: Lightly pubescent.        -   Sepal outer surface.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A with            intonations of Greyed-Purple Group 183A. Texture: Smooth.        -   Sepal shape.—General shape: Subulate. Apex: Cirrhose. Base:            Flat at union with receptacle.        -   Sepal margin.—Margins have weak foliaceous appendages on            three of the five sepals.        -   Sepal size.—21 mm long, 8 mm wide.        -   Receptacle.—Texture: Smooth. Size: 5 mm in height, 6 mm            wide. Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A with intonations of            Greyed-Purple Group 183A. Shape: Campanulate.        -   Pedicel.—Surface: Smooth. Length: 26 mm. Diameter: 2 mm on            average. Color: Yellow-Green Group 144C with intonations of            Greyed-Purple Group 183C. Strength: Strong.        -   Peduncle.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Color:            Yellow-Green Group 144C. Texture: Smooth.-   Flower bud development: Flower buds are borne in clusters of 1 to 3    flower buds per stem.-   Flower bloom:    -   -   Fragrance.—Strong perfume.        -   Duration.—The blooms have a duration on the plant of            approximately 14 days. Petals fall cleanly away from plant            after flowers have fully matured.        -   Size.—Flower diameter is 70 mm when open. Flower depth is 30            mm.        -   Flower shape.—Open cup, very double flower, with petals that            curve out from the center.        -   Shape of flower, side view.—The upper portion is flat. The            lower portion is flat concave.-   Petalage: Under normal conditions, flowers have about 65 petals.-   General tonality of flower: Open flowers are Red-Purple Group 65C.-   Petal color:    -   -   Upon opening, outer petals.—Upper surface: Red Group 49B.            Lower surface: Red-Purple Group 65C splashed with Red-Purple            Group N66C.        -   Upon opening, inner petals.—Upper surface: Red Group 49B.            Lower surface: Red-Purple Group 65C splashed with Red-Purple            Group N66C.        -   Basal petal spots, upon opening.—Upper surface: Yellow Group            4D. Lower surface: Yellow Group 5B.        -   After opening.—Outer and inner petals have same coloration            as upon opening.-   Petals:    -   -   Petal reflex.—Partially reflexed.        -   Margin.—Entire and uniform. Moderate undulations.        -   Shape.—Very broad and elliptic. Apex shape: Rounded. Base            shape: Rounded.        -   Size.—35 mm (l)×32 mm (w).        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Thickness.—Average.-   Petaloids:    -   -   Size.—10 mm (l) by 9 mm (w).        -   Quantity.—About 12.        -   Shape.—Irregular shaped, with rounded base and apex.        -   Margins.—Undulated, with occasional cleft.        -   Color.—The upper surface is Red Group 49B. Lower surface is            Red-Purple Group 65C splashed with Red-Purple Group N66C. At            the petaloid base intonations of Yellow Group 4D on the            lower and upper surface.-   Reproductive flower parts:    -   -   Pollen.—None observed.        -   Anthers.—Size: 2 mm in length. Color: Yellow-Orange Group            14C. Quantity: 42 on average.        -   Filaments.—Color: Yellow-Orange Group 21B. Length: 8 to 10            mm.        -   Pistils.—Length: 6 mm. Quantity: 25 on average.        -   Stigmas.—Color: Yellow-White Group 158A.        -   Styles.—Color: Greyed-Red Group 181B.        -   Location of stigmas.—Inferior in location relative to the            length of the filaments and the height of the anthers.        -   Hips.—None Observed.

PLANT

-   Plant growth: Upright, bushy. Plants are 40 cm in height, and 35 cm    wide.-   Stems:    -   -   Color of juvenile growth.—Yellow-Green Group 144B.        -   Color of mature growth.—Yellow-Green Group 144A.        -   Length.—Canes are about 15 cm from the base of the plant to            the flowering portion.        -   Diameter.—About 4 mm.        -   Internodes.—On mature canes about 40 mm between nodes.        -   Surface texture.—Young wood: Smooth. Older wood: Smooth.-   Long prickles:    -   -   Incidence.—3 to 4 prickles per 10 cm of stem.        -   Size.—Average length of prickles on mature stems is 6 mm.        -   Shape.—Upper portion is linear. Lower portion is concave.        -   Color.—Juvenile prickles: Greyed-Red Group 179C. Mature            prickles: Greyed-Red Group 179C.-   Plant foliage:    -   -   Compound leaf.—110 mm (l)×95 mm (w).        -   Quantity.—2 leaves per 10 cm of stem on average.        -   Leaf bearing angle to the stem.—45 degrees.        -   Color of juvenile foliage.—Upper side: Yellow-Green Group            144A. Lower side: Yellow-Green Group 144B.        -   Color of mature foliage.—Upper side: Yellow-Green Group            144A. Lower side: Yellow-Green Group 144B.-   Plant leaves and leaflets:    -   -   Stipules.—Size: 14 mm long, 4 mm wide. Quantity: 2 per            compound leaf. Shape: Linear, slightly broad based with            outward extending apices. Margins: Finely serrated. Color:            Yellow-Green Group 144A.        -   Petiole.—Length: 25 mm. Diameter: 3 mm. Upper surface color:            Yellow-Green Group 144C with intonations of Greyed-Red Group            180D. Lower surface color: Yellow-Green Group 144B.        -   Rachis.—Length: 40 mm. Diameter: 2 mm. Upper surface color:            Yellow-Green Group 144C. Lower surface color: Yellow-Green            Group 144B.        -   Leaflet.—Quantity: Normally 5 leaflets. Margins: Double            serrated. Size: Terminal leaflets are about 48 mm long, 35            mm wide. Shape: Generally elliptical. Base: Rounded. Apex:            Acute. Texture: Smooth. Thickness: Average. Arrangement: Odd            pinnate. Venation: Reticulate. Glossiness: Not glossy.-   Disease resistance: Above average resistance to powdery mildew    Sphaerotheca pannosa, downy mildew Peronospora sparsa, rust    Phragmidium sps., black spot Diplocarpon rosae, and Botrytis cinerea    under normal growing conditions.-   Cold hardiness: The variety is tolerant to USDA Cold Hardiness Zone    6.-   Heat tolerance: The variety has been found to be suitable for    climate conditions found in the American Horticulture Society heat    zone 7.-   Pest resistance: Susceptible to any insect pest normally associated    with the species.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the CompactFloribunda rose class named ‘Poulpal078’, substantially as illustratedand described herein, due to its abundant light pink flowers, diseaseresistance, and extended period of bloom.